“Come on!” she yelled.
They took to a jogging pace and headed for Warren’s position. It was the site of the first breach and was therefore the priority. It took just a couple of minutes to reach the back of the Battalion. The small colony allowed them to pack in tight and concentrate their fire. The gunfire they could hear was controlled and steady. Chandra pushed her way through the lines, until finally she reached the front where Warren was overseeing the action.
The defences had been built tall, and she could not see over the barricades what the lines of commandos were firing at. They all seemed remarkably calm, and there were no casualties in sight. The three-dozen rifles firing were evidently holding back whatever was coming at them down the broad hallway.
“Give me an update, Major!” she shouted over the echoing shots.
“Enemy advance has been halted here. We have sustained no casualties.”
“Damn good work.”
“They’re being funnelled in through the breach in so few enough numbers that they aren’t making any headway at present.”
Chandra was glad to hear it and continued on up to the barricade to see for herself. She leapt up onto the make shift rampart to immediately see two Mechs being cut down by crossfire. The creatures were only able to get through in small numbers and were little trouble for the commandos, and yet they kept coming.
“Crazy bastards keep running onto our guns!” called one of the troops next to her.
She thought back to the lives Jafar and Tsengal had described. It was a hard and bitter existence for their race. She wondered if the first wave were just testing the defences, or even just expending their opponent’s ammunition. She didn’t share her thoughts. She wanted them to enjoy any little victory they could. The Colonel turned and jumped back down, striding to Warren’s position.
“Keep it up, Major.”
She strolled on more confidently than she had arrived. They had all expected to be hit with overwhelming force, and yet they were holding steady. The more she thought about it, the more it unsettled her until she decided to turn to Tsengal for answers.
“Why do they attack in such small number? This is too easy.”
“This is just the beginning,” he replied.
“Why not amass their forces for an assault?”
“My former leaders would not care for lives lost. The order to attack would have been given and must be followed.”
“And you lived like that?”
“Until we met Major Taylor, there was no other way to live.”
They got to the end of Warren’s troops to find a seamless transition to Chen’s soldiers. She was glad to see there was no break in the line. As she arrived, the guns went silent. She could see the first wave was finished. The Chinese troops had just four wounded and stood triumphantly before several dozen of the enemy. The soldiers were taking the hiatus to reload and ready themselves for a second wave. Chandra was about to congratulate Chen when they heard a ruckus from over the defences.
“Drones!” she heard one cry.
A surge of gunfire opened up, and she jumped to the line to see for herself. The hover drones they had gotten used to seeing in France were pouring in like ants. Their weapons fired the second they came into view, and there seemed no end to their number. She lifted her rifle and quickly joined in the fight.
Gunfire poured in from above their heads, and she looked up to see several platoons of Chen’s troops on a platform above them. Tsengal and four of her platoon leapt up to join in the fight, but they were all that could fit in the space left. Pulses from the drones smashed into their positions, but much of the defensive line was made from alien metal and stopped the worst of it.
The drones were being smashed as quickly as they poured into the hall, but still they kept coming. Several of the troops fired grenades into the mass, sending debris sprawling out across the ground and pelting the walls. Chandra’s magazine ran dry, so she ducked back down behind the cover to load in a fresh one. Back on her feet, she could see the drones had made a couple of metres progress, despite the floor being littered with the wreckage of those that came before them. Pulses continued to smash their position and rush overhead. Clearly, the fire from the humans overwhelmed them.
Seeing the relentless push of the drones was a frightful sight. Even the aliens themselves could eventually be broken and forced into retreat, but the drones kept going until the bitter end. She remembered studying the use of them in human history, and how they fell out of favour due to the inhuman nature of them. Hearts and minds is what she always remembered.
The last of the drones were finally reduced to a line of twisted and burnt metal, and the hall was silent again. There were no cries of celebration. Destroying machines seemed to have little effect on their morale, but it was at least a relief to have stopped the first attack.
Taylor sat silently as the information from Red 1 was relayed to them on the briefing table. The bridge was quiet as they listened to the audio relay from Bradley until the moment contact was lost. For ten whole seconds after the feed went dead, no one said a word. Taylor looked up to the Admiral and pleaded.
“We have to go to their aid. We have to do something!”
Huber shook his head.
“We can’t just leave them there and sit on our asses!”
Huber liked the Major, but he didn’t like anyone raising his voice on his bridge, and telling him what he should and shouldn’t do.
“You will do exactly as is ordered and expected of you. You heard your Colonel. They have ample ability and strength to hold the colony.”
Taylor fell silent. He knew he could not challenge the Admiral’s decision. Huber turned to his XO.
“Double the range our scouts are going. I want to know if anything is heading our way.”
He turned back to Taylor and could see the sadness in his face.
“Follow me, Major.”
The two of them stepped inside the Admiral’s quarters where they could talk freely. Taylor remained silent. He expected a grilling for his performance, but it didn’t come.
“Please do not think I want to leave them out there, but remember this war is about more than one officer, more than one battalion, more than one army. This fleet is the only thing standing between the enemy and Earth. Would you risk it all far into enemy territory, when we still know so little? We created this fleet to protect Earth and our other colonies. When we can be certain that we have the ability and strength to move forward, we shall. But don’t let yourself believe that one victory means we are all powerful.”
Taylor accepted his words. He knew the Admiral was right, but it was a harsh reality to accept.
“I thought we were coming here to take the fight to the enemy, Sir.”
“And we have, but now we must consolidate and defend what we have taken. This is a major breakthrough for our civilisation. We have travelled light years from Earth, invaded alien territory, and seized one of their colonies. Let’s not forget how far we have gotten. It was not so long ago that Earth was on its knees.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Go now, calm yourself, and remember your Colonel is more than capable of taking care of herself.”
Taylor showed himself out and skulked miserably off the bridge. By the time he had reached the elevator, his sadness was gone, and it was replaced by anger and a pig-headed resolve. When the doors opened, he strode out with purpose. He rushed towards the berths where Inter-Allied were living. Silva was the first familiar face he found.
“Sergeant, gather the troops. We’re heading out.”
The Sergeant looked puzzled.
“Sir, aren’t we…”
“You heard me, Sergeant!”
Silva was never one to disobey his orders and quickly turned, rushing off to carry them out. Taylor lifted up his comms unit.
“Captain Ryan, prepare the Deveron for take-off.”
“Roger that,” came the reply.
He turned quickly to rush to
his quarters to get his gear when he found himself confronted by Parker. She blocked his way and brought him to an abrupt halt. He could see from the look on her face that she had been listening in and did not approve.
“Don’t do it.”
“Don’t do what? Help our friends?”
“Don’t throw your life away again. Last time you were left to rot in prison because you disobeyed an order, and as a result a friend died, anyway. The Colonel is more than capable of looking after herself. The best thing you can do for her is to do as she asked, and protect the fleet.”
He wanted to disagree and knew he could quite easily ignore everything she said, but deep down she was right.
“Why do we have to leave so many friends behind?” he asked.
“Why do we have to fight this damn war in the first place? I know she means a lot to you, but she does to all of us. You know what she’d want you to do.”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“How can we just leave them there?”
“She may just surprise you yet. The Colonel is a hell of a woman.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“So what’s it gonna be?”
Taylor thought for a few seconds, and she could already see he’d come to accept the grim turn of events. He lifted up his comms unit once again.
“Captain Ryan, belay that order. Sergeant Silva, stand down.”
He looked back to Eli and was thankful she’d been there to stop him, but still in his heart, he knew it was the wrong thing to do. Eli lifted her hand and rested her palm on his cheek. She didn’t envy his position as second in command.
“I am sick of this fucking war,” he whispered.
“I know,” she replied even more quietly as she leant into his shoulder.
“It’ll be the death of us all.”
“Don’t talk like that. We’ve made it this far. What makes you think we can’t see this through?”
“Just how much more luck do you think we have? We’re put on the frontline every time. We can’t go on like this forever.”
“Well then I guess we better just win this war soon.”
He smiled in response. A little light humour was the only thing that would break him from the cycle.
Chandra leapt down from Chen’s position and rushed on to find Klimenko. In a war where they had little communications or visual displays, she had to see it all for herself. She could hear Suarez cursing under his breath at having to follow her, but she didn’t care.
As she reached the Russian lines, she could see a number of dead who had been set aside and several wounded being carried away. The battle was clearly already over. Along the defensive wall, the marines had propped up Reitech shields in a regimented fashion every metre, providing protection and firing positions that resembled the ramparts of an old castle.
Major Klimenko sat at a table with a box of ammunition on the ground beside him, reloading his magazines. Several of his marines were with him. He looked surprisingly calm as his troops helped the wounded and adjusted the defences around him. As she approached, he peered up and greeted her.
“A good start, Colonel.”
She leapt up onto the line of defences to peer over at the destruction below. The bodies of several dozen Mechs lay there. Some of the marines were passing through the enemy wounded, and she watched as one of the Russians fired two shots into one of the aliens that was still struggling.
Nothing seemed to shock her any longer, and she could see the rest of the troops had become just as polarised. She turned and jumped back down to address Klimenko.
“Any news on their strength?” he asked.
“Sorry, all I can say for sure is it’s big.”
He nodded in acceptance. “Any possibility of reinforcement?”
“Not likely. I’d think plenty of the enemy fleet have continued on to the gate.”
“Do we present enough of a threat to draw some of their attentions and give Huber a fighting chance?”
“Hell, yes. I’m sure they’re already well aware they’ll need more than a few hundred soldiers to take this colony back. We’ll make them pay a high price here.”
“And ourselves? What price will we pay?”
“Whatever we have to. Our fate is now tied to this planet. Nobody leaves.”
“I wasn’t intended on going anywhere,” he replied dryly.
“We’re in this for the long haul. I’ll arrange further supplies to be brought to you, presently.”
He nodded, and she turned to return to where she had come from. The CP was still as silent as when she had left. The five personnel inside all turned to her for news. She was hoping for answers from them, but they had little information to share.
“The first wave has been held off. Casualties are as minimal as could be hoped for.”
There was a small sigh of relief that was barely audible from several inside.
“Have you got any news on their numbers and the state of their fleet?” she continued.
“We still have a few camera feeds open. About half of the enemy ships continued on for the jump gate. The others have remained in orbit over our position.”
“Then they must be readying themselves for a proper assault. They tested our defences today. I would not be surprised if the next wave comes before the day is over.”
No one responded. They didn’t want to speculate at what horrors they might face next.
“Have we got any means of contacting the fleet at all?” she asked.
“The only possibility is to send a physical message aboard a ship or something similar, like one of the delivery drones.”
Delivery drones. It’s time we put drones back into action, she thought.
“Do you believe such a message would get through?”
Bradley shrugged his shoulders.
“We have no idea what’s out there now, or what capabilities they have for stopping whatever we send out.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“Sorry, Colonel.”
“It’s alright, there’s nothing worth saying yet, anyhow.”
She turned, leaving the room in silence once again. Tsengal was the first thing she saw as she stepped outside.
“They will not stop,” he stated.
“We will break their armies over this colony.”
“I have no doubt, but they will never give it up.”
“Then let’s make them pay a bitter price for it.”
She carried on to Warren’s position, as it was where she felt most at home. Chandra didn’t like having to fight a battle without the 2 ^nd Inter-Allied soldiers she had become so close to. Several wounded were being carted through to designated rooms with sealable environments. The breaches in the colony walls were causing oxygen shortages through much of the complex.
Chandra reached the commandos’ position and stepped up again to their defensive line. Dozens of the marines were busy rebuilding and improving the walls. Many others waited with their rifles at the ready for the next assault. Major Warren paced up to talk her privately.
“Do you think the General will send any help?”
“It’ll be sometime before he could organise and get troops here. I fear they will be a long time short of reaching us in our time of need.”
“So we’re fucked. Left out here alone?”
“Pretty much. But we have a chance to make a difference. We have the opportunity to make those bastards pay a dear price.”
She looked out to the carnage. There had been no attempt to clear the enemy dead. They provided obstacles to the next assault, if nothing else. Despite wearing a fully enclosed suit with her own oxygen supply, she could smell the burning bodies and armour. The taste and putrid smell was something she could never forget, and despite her suit protecting her from it, her mind projected it for her.
“They’ll come in much greater number next time. Make sure you keep plenty of ammunition handy. If we can keep them bottlenecked in these hallways, we have a chance.”
<
br /> “A chance for what?” asked Warren.
“For victory.”
He appeared surprised and looked into eyes to see if she truly meant it. He could tell she believed her own words. He just wasn’t sure what she defined as victory.
“We’ll nail those bastards. This planet will run in blue rivers of blood.”
Chapter 9
Looking out to space, Taylor could see nothing but their own fleet and the deep abyss beyond. He waited to see an enemy ship every moment and fully expected it, but nothing came. He sat on a viewing deck close to the outer skin of the Washington’s hull with a real view out to space. It always felt different seeing it with one’s own eyes than on a projected display. The window was just a metre wide and had a large blast door slung over it, ready to shut at a moment’s notice.
Where Mitch stood was one of the few luxuries of the ship. It was quiet and relaxing, and the view out to space made it feel so much less claustrophobic than the rest of the vessel. He imagined the feeling was much like that of working aboard a submarine in their oceans; a job he never envied. Living at sea was something he always enjoyed, but the notion of the environment outside being fatal made Taylor feel sick at times.
A hand reached onto his shoulder and even though he wore his armour, he could feel it was a light touch. It could only be one person in the world. He felt his shoulders relax from the highly-strung state he had been in and turned with a smile to see Eli.
“You need some rest,” she whispered.
“Don’t we all?”
Her weary face tightened into an even broader smile.
How can she remain so positive? He wondered.
“I’ll sleep when I’m in the grave,” Taylor added.
Her smile quickly vanished, and she responded quickly.
“Many men have said the same, and it has come sooner than they would have liked. Don’t think just because you have made it this far, you are invincible. You can be killed just the same as us all.”
“No, not me.”
She shook her head, but she could not quite tell if he was joking or not.
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